Our New Favorite Memo
July 30th, 2008 by Cali & Jody
Thanks to the reader who sent this through the Tell us why work sucks button:
Please be advised that the temperature in this office is set by me and ONLY by me. The thermostats are NOT TO BE TOUCHED - PERIOD. Should you find 21 degrees Celsius (standard room temperature) too chilly, put on additional clothing and speak to your manager.
ANYONE ADJUSTING THE THERMOSTAT WILL BE SANCTIONED WITH DISCIPLINARY ACTION
THIS WARNING WILL NOT BE REPEATED
Thank you for your co-operation.
After all veiled threats, controlling behavior and ALL-CAPS YELLING, we’re a little puzzled by the “thank you” at the end. “Thank you” for amusing me by abiding by this insane rule? “Thank you” for allowing me to think I can control everything that surrounds you - even the temperature of the air? We’re a bit worried that the manager looks soft by thanking the readers of this memo, when clearly people need to know who’s boss.
We know there’s more crazy nonsense like this out there. Please send it to us. Stuff like this just makes us fight harder.
For those who are fascinated by this type of thing [and who isn't], I recommend taking a look at http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com. Of course it’s not confined to why work sucks; it applies to everything: coworkers, roommates, customers, retail clerks, innocent passers-by. You name it, somebody has already written a passive-aggressive note about it and been unknowingly made into the laughingstock of thousands.
Have fun,
Carey
That note is so funny but I think the way my boss dealt with it is so much more amusing. Our office has had issues with temperature differences from area to area due to additions and remodels. The owner of had a new system installed that is electronic and inaccessible to the staff so they won’t keep adjusting it. Then, he had the heating and air company install fake thermostats in each area around the office, 7 areas total. The staff accuses each other of turning up or down the air conditioning even though they don’t know that the thermostats aren’t hooked up to anything. In the winter the office is either 60 or 90 degrees and in the summer it is always below 65.
The boss lives across country and is only in our office once a month. He just laughs when we complain about the temp and says we all need to stop adjusting the thermostats.
Got to love a sense of humor.
@Carey - thanks for the multitude of passive-agressive notes. There are more of these out there than we thought!
@Kelley - oh, the background on the note is even better than the note itself. Keep sending us more humor (er, if we want to call it humor!) from your office. We like it!
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